Check sorting machine with card punching attachment



Oct. 4, 1938. 5 BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 259 I 6 57 3 9 34-- v 88 x INVENTOR 74 4%! M BY ATTORNEY S. BRAND CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOF a v- 7W ATTORNEY 5. BRAND Oct. 4, 1938.

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR i: i M BY ATTORNEY S. BRAND Oct. 4, 1938.

CHECK- SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT l6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1937 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 16 sheets sheet 5 Z r "w INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

7 CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 1 s s 7 AT'TORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. 5 BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 l6 Sheets-Sheet a FIG.I4.

' INVE TOR W ATTO R N EY Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 16.

A TTORNEYS,

Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WEIH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet ll IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY S.

Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 12- F'IG. 19.

i INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 4, 1938.

CHECK SO RTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT S. BRAND Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet l 3 INVENTOR W ATTORNEY S. BRAND Oct. 4, 1938.

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNGHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1957 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR MM BY V m ATTORNEY S. BRAND Oct. 4, 1938.

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Feb. 25

IIIIIII I I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1938. 5. BRAND 2,131,912

CHECK SORTING MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1937 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 IN VEN TOR.

BY 0 W w, WNEYS.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES CHECK SORT1NG MACHINE WITH CARD PUNCHING ATTACHIVIENT Samuel Brand, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application February 25, 1937, Serial No. 127,640

' 21 Claims.

The improvements herein described forming the subject matter of the present invention relate to machines of the type shown in the patent to F. L. Fuller, No. 1,966,623 issued July 17, 1934 5 and in the application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 743,044, filed Sept. '7, 1934 in the name of F. L. Fuller and S. Brand. It is thought that a brief description of the machine to which the present invention is applied will be helpful for an understanding of the functions of the machine and the application of the present invention.

Such machines are designed to simultaneously list and sort groups of promiscuously arranged checks so that checks drawn on the same bank can be sorted and a list of the amounts of checks of each group can be printed on a separate tape. The amounts of the checks are listed under control of a ten-key keyboard-and the checks are then dropped into an aperture which communicates with a selected compartment of a sorting drum which carries compartments annularly arranged about the drum.. The .drum is rotated under control of the keys of a second keyboard to bring the selected compartment into registration with the aperture. The sortingdrum is controlled to rotate from its last position to the selected position in the direction of the shorter pat These machines are also provided with a plurality of totalizers, there being a totalizer for each 7 sorting compartment. The amount of each check sorted in a particular compartment is entered into the totalizer identified with the compartment.

1 The machines are also provided with separate printers one for each compartment so that the amounts oi. checks of the same classification can be printed together on a separate tape.

Due to structln'al and operating limitations the 40 present form of machine can take care of twenty-four classifications. Obviously, commercial transactions require more classifications, and the extra classifications are usually miscellaneous in type and can be taken care of as a separate group.

45 The printer associated with the sorting com-' partment will give only the list of the amounts of all the checks in the miscellaneous group and for this miscellaneous group it is desirable to have separate lists of the amounts of all checks of the 50 same classification in the miscellaneous group.

It is therefore an object of the present inven tion to devise an attachment for the check sorting machine which will cause the punching on a tabulating card of the amount oi. the checks sorted in the miscellaneous compartment.

It is a further object to control the punching of the cards by a separate punching machine by the key which selects the miscellaneous compartment and to cause the amounts to be punched to be determined by the keys which are depressed to represent the amounts.

It is a further object to cause the stacking of the punched cards in the same order that the miscellaneous checks are sorted in the miscellaneous compartment. With this arrangement it is possible to re-insert the punched cards in the punching machine and by the usual keys cause the punching on the cards of the classifications of the miscellaneous checks. By existing machines on the market these checks can be sorted according to their classifications and by existing tabulating machines separate lists of the amounts of checks of the same classification can be prepared. By this system the utility of the check sorting machine is greatly increased and almost any number of check classifications can be taken care of.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide set up devices in the check sorting machine for controlling the punching of the amounts and to set them invariably for the amount of each check sorted.

A still further object of the present invention is.to provide a control rendered effective by the key associated with the miscellaneous pocket for causing the set-up devices to control the punching of the amounts and for rendering the punching machine automatically eiiective.

v A still further object of the invention is to cause the punching machine to be operated automatically and independently of the check sorting machine and to effect thedigit punching operations successively.

A still further object of the present inventio is to provide a locking arrangement whereby the operation of the punching machine causes the automatic locking of the motor release bar which causes check feeding operations until the punching is completed. However, the arrangement provides the possibility of depressing the compartment selecting key for the next check and the subsequent operation of the keys which are depressed for representing the amount oi the next check. In this manner the operator may be busy with operations incidental to the next check and by the time these are completed, punching will be terminated and the motor release bar unlocked so that check feeding operations under control thereof may be instituted. By this overlapping 01 operations the operator is not held up in his work part,

Fig. 1 is a view of the right elevation of the machine with the casing removed,

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the locking bolt for the sorting drum,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the driving mechanism for the sorting drum,

Fig. 4 15 a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of F18. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 6 showing the brake for the sorting drum,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the driving mechanism for the sorting drum,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the set up keys for selecting the compartments of the drum and a particular key for selecting the punching mechanism for operation,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the motor release bar and the one revolution clutch controlled thereby,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing certain parts of the one revolution clutch control mechanism detached from each other,

. Fig. 10 is'a view inside elevation showing the construction of the feed roller frame,

Fig. 11 is a detail view in section showing the construction of the sorting drum and mounting means therefor,

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of a section of the sorting drum together with the check feeding mechanism with the latter shown in normal position,

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but shows particularly the check feeding mechanism in lowered position, 7

Figs. 14 and 15 taken together with Fig. 14 on top show the electrical circuit diagram of the check sorting machine in Fig. 14 and the top part of Fig. 15 and in the lower part of Fig. 15 the electrical circuits for the punching machine,

Fig. 16 is a view in front elevation of the tenkey setting mechanism for setting up the amounts on the checks which are to be punched ong cards,

Fig. 17 is a detail view of an escapement mechanism,

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ten-key setting mechanism and associated settable rack devices for setting the electrical commutator units for controlling the punching machine,

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the'ten-key setting mechanism,

Fig. 20 is a detail view of an operating cam and mechanism operated thereby,

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the automatic card punching machine, I

Fig. 22 is an outside view of the punching machine broken away to show certain interior parts,

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the punching machine,

Fig. 24is a detail view illustrating certain conthe machine.

tact making mechanism of the punching machine'controlled by the escapement mechanism,

Fig. 25 is a view in side elevation of the left end of the punching machine showing the card ejecting mechanism therefor,

Fig. 26 is a sectionalview taken on the line 26-25 of Fig. 28 of the resetting mechanism for the commutator units in the check sorting machine,

Fig. 27 is a detail view of certain electrical contact making mechanism,

Fig. 28 is a front view of the resetting mechanism for the commutator units.

Framework of check sorting machine The main framework of the check sorting machine includes three longitudinal frames 30, 3| and 32 (Fig. 11) mounted on a sub-base 33 (Fig. 1) which in turn'is supported on legs 34. The frames 30, 3| and 32 are joined by a back frame 35. The front legs 34 are joinedby a rod 35 and the back legs 34 are joined in a similar manner by a rod 31. These rods support a base or platform 33 (Figs. 1, 3, and 6) upon which is mounted the drum controlling mechanism.

I Drive fnechamsm Separate electric motors are provided to drive One of these motors 39.(Fig. 1) drives the sorting drum. The other motor 40 (Fig. 3) drives the check feeding mechanism.

The motor 40 (Fig. 3) also drives a' generator 4| directly connected thereto for the purpose of supplying low voltage current to operate the several relays and other electrically operated devices with which the machine is provided and which will be described in detail later in the specifications.

The motor 39 is reversible in order to drive the check sorting drum from the position in which it was left at the last operation through the shorter distance to a selected position.

The sorting drum indicated generally at 5| (Fig. 1) is driven by the motor 39 through a gear 42 (Fig. 4) secured on the armature shaft 43. This gear drives a gear 44 fast on a shaft 45 suitably mounted in a gear housing 46 forming a part of the motor frame, and in a bracket 41. The motor 33 and the bracket 41 are mounted on the base 38 (see also Fig. 3). A clutch disc .48 mounted to slide longitudinally on the shaft 45 but rotatable with shaft 45 through the medium of keys or splines 49, (Fig. 4) is adapted to be brought into contact with a clutch facing 50 mounted on a clutch disc 56 loosely mounted on the shaft 45. The clutch disc 56 is secured to a sprocket gear 51 also looselymounted on the shaft 45, and, through a chain 58, (Fig. 1) drives a larger sprocket gear 59 secured to a drum shaft 60 mountedin suitable bearings .supported in brackets 6| (Fig. 11) extending downwardly from the sub-base 33. 3

The clutch disc 48 is normally out of contact with the facing 50 and is adapted to be brought into physical contact therewith by the energization of a clutch magnet 62 (Fig. 4). This magnet operates a pair of arms 63 faster: a shaft 64 joumaled in a bracket 65. Also secured to the shaft 54 is a yoke 66 (Figs. 4 and 6) the ends of which yoke carry rollers 61 projecting into an annular groove in the hub 68 of the clutch disc 48.

Obviously, when the magnet 62 (Fig. 4) is energized it attracts its armature 69 which is secured to the arms 83 rocking these arms, the she 64 iii and the yoke 66 slightly clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4), shifting the disc 48 into close contact with the facing 50 so that the rotation of shaft 45 is transmitted to the sprockets 51 to frictionally drive the sorting drum.

As will be fully explained later in connection with the. description of the circuit diagram, the motor 39 may operate in either direction under the control of the selector keys in order to rotate the sorting drum the shorter distance to the selected position.

A brake mechanism is provided for the purpose of decreasing the speed of the drum as it nears the selected position. This brake mechanism includes a brake drum 10 secured on the armature shaft 43 of the drive motor 39 (see Figs. 3 and 5). A pair of brake shoes H and i2 pivoted on a common rod 73 and embracing the drum iii are provided with suitable linings N. The brake shoes H and 12 normally press their linings against the drum in under the influence of springs 15 compressed between retaining nuts i6 on the ends of a rod H and the upward extending ends of said shoes I! and 172. .When at the proper time, as will be described later, a brake magnet 78 is energized it attracts its armature drawing a truncated cone 79 mounted on the lower end thereof, upwardly between rollers 80,

there being a roller 80 mounted in the bifurcated upper ends of each of the brake shoes H and i2,

thus spreading the brake shoes and releasing the drum Mi for rotation. At approximatelythe time the selected pocket is at the desired position the magnet i8 is deenergized which releases the brake shoes for action of their springs ((5. This immediately brings the brake lining into effective contact with the drum it to stop the rotation of the sorting drum.

In addition to the application of the brake to drum in, other means is provided to act as an effective brake for the purpose of, stopping the drum. This means includes momentary reversal of the current through the field windings of the motor 39. The manner in which this reversal is accomplished'will be fully brought out in conneci circuit which has the effect of causing the motor to run at reduced speed until the sorting drum is accurately positioned. When this occurs, that is, when the .drum is brought to rest in its selected, position a locking finger at (Fig. 1), which was withdrawn at the beginning of the operation by the energization of magnets 87, is released and its spring #38 rocks said fingerinto engagement with one of a plurality of spaced alining notches 89 located about the periphery of a ring 85 secured to the drurn St.

The motor 30 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) as stated above, drives the generator M and in addition drives a sprocket gear Q0 through reduction gears enclosed in a housing M. The sprocket gear 9%, by means of a chain Ma, rotates a sprocket gear 92 (Fig. 1) secured to a main drive shaft 93 mounted in the frames 3t, 3t and 32 The drive shaft 93 rotates continually while the machine is in operation and drives a main cam shaft't i by means of a gear 95 (Fig. 8) fast on the drive shaft 93 meshing with a larger gear 95 rotatably mounted on the cam shaft 94. A one revolution clutch is provided and is rendered efiective, under the control of a release bar 9?, to couple the cam shaft 9 3 to the gear 96 whereby the shaft 96 receives one complete counterclockwise rotation (Fig. 8) at each check feeding and amount set up operation. This clutch and release bar will be described later.

Keyboard for check sorting machine A brief description will now be given of the various manipulative devices provided for controlling the machine. The sorting drum, indicated generally at 5| (Fig. 1), has twenty-four a plurality of selector keys 98 (Figs. 1 and 7) arrangedin four banks of six keys each is provided. These keys are slidably supported in plates 99 and H00 carried between frames lfll (only one of which is shown) mounted on projections on the sub-base 33. Springs I02 compressed between the plate Hill and the shoulders on the key stems normally hold the keys 98 in the upward position.

The key caps carry suitable indications to designate the compartments according to the classification numbers, letters, etc. of the checks or vouchers to be sorted. ,For illustrative purposes, however, the keys 98 have been given numbers from i to it to correspond with the numbers of the compartments on the-drum 5i.

Upon depression of a key 98 a projection on the stem thereof cams a detent 53 toward the right (Fig. 7) until the shoulders of said projection pass below the detent whereupon a spring lfl l restores the detent to latch the key in de-' pressed position. I The detent tilt is supported between pairs of rods N315 extending between the frames fill. The depressed key is held by the detent ma until another key is depressed which shifts the detent releasing the previously depressed key. The keys 9% may not otherwise be released.

Each of the keys Q8 carries at its lower end a rounded block of insulation which, upon depression of a key, is thrust between contact blades it to close two pair of contacts i017 and H08,

there being a set of contacts MW and M18 provided for each key at. The blades upon which the contacts it? and W8 are carried are suitably mounted on bars Hi9 supported between the frames Hit. The contacts WT! and 18 are connected by suitable wires to the-sorting drum control device which will be described later.

The sorting drum for sorting checks It was described above how the shaft 60 (Figs. 1 and 11) is mounted in the frame 33 and how this shaft is rotated by the motor 39 by means of the chain 58. The shaft 60 supports and rotates the sorting drums in the following described manner:

Secured to the shaft be are two flanged hubs H36 and i3! (Fig. 11) to the flange of which hubs are secured discs 038 having flanged rims I39.

A larger disc M0 is secured to the right hand disc see? AVAIL/AB! 01 the parts 8 overlapping its neighbor. The plates are then bent outwardly to form radial separators I49 for the compartments. Near their outward extremity the plates are bent toward their respective rods HG, then, passing over these rods, said plates are bent slightly inward, these two bent portions forming apertures. 150-5555 through which the checks are fed into the compartments. Ears are bent outwardly from the separator plates Me, one near the plate M?! and one near the disc Mo and holes therect are received by the rods 1 38 to maintain the separators M9 properly spaced.

Near each endoi' the rods M6 are pivoted anguiar arms G52 which areas; are joined by sieeves E53 surrounding the rods. Between them eaci pair of arms G52 pivotaily carries a check re= tainer or clamping plate 6""? each pressed against theseparator-iw its by springs at tached to the arms ogections on the tower edges of the o3 ente is sic the bottom of the z movement of the inn g er r tne control of he describe" gram sh sag new to the ,0 operate the closed, energizes the rector continually driving the generate and drive shaft 1 Closing switch 3053 a so pro vicies current for the motor 7 means of 69 and "out this motor I selector key is depressed control relays now to he clescrihed.- fi'heicurrent for operating the several relays is supplied direct cur r nt generator ii, the positive Eeacl from sai" generator being indicated at and the nega tive lead at 56.3. I

As was set forth previously are twenty- ;Eour compartments in the sorting 5i and an equal number of seiector keys 9S provided to select the compartments. h ades of each inner pair of blades Hi6 (Fig. 7) the switches operated by these keys are ccnnectedhy com= mon wire ass (Re. 14) to the positive side 562 or the generator 2H. Each of the blades carry ing one of the points oi the contacts Edi? is connected'hy a wire it?) to corresponding brushes use. These brushes are stationary and are mounted in a suitable, insulating support to?! secured to the sub-base by a pair or brackets Q68 (see Fig. 11). The'hrushes 866 are constantly in contact with a split coutator comprising separate segments ass-ans Eliti (Fig. M) mounted in an insulating disc I16 (Fig. 11) secured to the sprocket 59 which, in turn, is fast on the compartment drum shaft 60. The segment I69 is electrically connected to a ring l1! and the segment I10 is electrically connected to a ring I18 5 both of which rings are mounted in and rotate with the disc 916.

The commutator segments E69 and H0 have a fixed relationship with the compartment drum and rotate. therewith, but rotate with respect to the brushes its consequently the spaces between the segments E69 and H0 may be between any adjacent pair of diametrically opposed brushes i655. For the illustrative embodiment it may be noted (see is) that one or" the spaces sepcrating these segments lies between the brushes corresponding to the No. i compartment and the No. 2 3 compartment-while the space Separating; the opposite ends of the segments 1' between the brushes corresponding to 1..0. and No. compartments.

.Z enression of a key for instance the closes contacts and compietes' c; the. positive side 02 5% generator Zine contacts E. crush commu crash J-y. .u. attracts 111$ Loiacae er a t ts "corn e ne reiay i contacts a nation magnet (see also the ciutch r i558 the negative u brake magnet circuit is com ifii, contacts wires to the negative side The operation of brake (Figs. 1,

nd 6) draws its armature inciuding the mereer upwardly spreading the brake shoes u thus releasing the brake. Erie gization of the ray closes contacts (lower right of Fig. ciosing a circuit from the negativelead B63, contacts contacts 2% closed upon energizetion or reiay tilt, to the negative side of motor control relays can, 226 i, 202 and 53. The energization of the clutch magnet 62 engages the 60 its, wire 185 to the negative lead 363, thus setto 4 ting up a holding circuit through the relay i382.

Another circuit is completed through contacts 992, wires [I53 and 28?, contacts 235 closed by relay H82, wire 223, relay coil 22%, contacts 225, 226 andiu, wire 685 to line side 1163. Energiza- $6 

